ve been ingenious
in his punishment. How long were the boys out, over recess time?"

"Twenty-five minutes."

"Then," returned Mr. Gadsby, "I can quite see Dr. Thorton informing
the young men that they would be expected to remain at least five
times as long after school as they had been improperly away from
it. That is---er---ah---he would have sent for his own dinner,
and would have eaten it at his desk, with scores of hungry young
men looking on while their own dinners went cold. At three
o'clock---perhaps---Dr. Thornton would have dismissed the
offenders. It would be many a day before the boys would try
anything of that sort again on good old Thornton. But you, my
dear Cantwell, I am afraid you have failed to make the boys respect
you at all times. The power of enforcing respect is the basis of
all discipline."

"Then what shall I do with the young men this time?"

"Since you have---er---missed your opportunity, you---er---can
do nothing, now, but let it pass. Let them imagine, from day
to day, that sentence is still suspended and hovering over them."

Wily Dick Prescott had been to see Mr. Gadsby, just before the
arrival of the principal. In his other capacity of reporter
for "The Blade" the High School pitcher had said a few earnest
words to his host. Mr. Gadsby, with his eye turned ever toward
election day and the press, had been wholly willing to listen.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE AGONY OF THE LAST BIG GAME

"Ya, ya, ya! Ye gotter do somethings!"

This from Mr. Schimmelpodt. That gentleman was waving one of
his short, fat arms wildly. It may as well be stated that from
the smaller extremity of that arm, namely, his hand---a small
crimson and gold banner attached to a stick cut circles in the
air.

"Go to it, Gridley!"

"Get busy! You can't take a black eye at this end of the season."

Gridley High School with a season's record of one tied game and
a long tally of victories, seemed now in dire straits.

Sides were changing for the last half of the ninth inning.

Gridley had taken seven runs. Wayland High School, with six runs
already to their credit, was now going to bat for the last inning
unless the score should be tied.

The perfect June day, just before commencement, had brought out
a host. Wayland had sent nearly four hundred people. The total
attendance was past four thousand paid admissions.

Herr Schimmelpodt, who, since his first enthusiasm, had not missed
a game, w